Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-28
FORTY-FOUR ROUNDS.
A TERRIBLE SLUGGING MATCH BOUGHT IN
THE TWENTY-FOUR FOOT RING.
Billy Watson and Tom Duffy DiSfgure Each Other
for Two Hours and Fifteen MiuutS-A
Bloody Battle That is Finally
Declared a Draw.

KANKAKEE, Ills, 26.-Gne Of the
gamsst priz. fights ever witnessed in Hi
nois, occurred near here last Sunday morn
ing. Three hundred young men waded
through the wet weeds near town, and en-
tered an old shanty close beside the rail
road track.
Once inside the shanty five lamps were
lighted, and the doors securely locked.
The master of ceremonies announced that
Billy Watson, OF Chicago, and Tom Duffy,
ofOhio, were to fight to a finish, with two
ounce gloves, for $150a side and the entire
gate receipts, which amounted to $500
more.
Duffy, who is % years old, stripped at
40 pounds. Watson is % years old and
weighs 1873 pounds. Shortly after 3 O'Clock
both men stepped into the middle of the
ring and the battle began. After sparring
for an opening Duffy landed lightly on
Watson's stomach, and in return received
a ~lett-hander on the jOwl.
Fierce fighting followed and the round
ended in IA clinch. Both men were eau
ions in the second round and the fighting,
which was weak, was done ut long range.
In the third round Duffy got a crack on the
nose that started claret. First blood was
claimed for Watson and allowed. Cautious
fighting followed until the seventh round,
when Duffy caught on an upper cut from
Watson's right that lifted him off his feet
and laid him against the ropes. He re-
covered in fine shape, however, and sent
Watson to his knees with a blow under the
right ear. When Duffy went to his corner
after the second round, Murphy, his sec
ond, washed the blood from his face and
sent him up in clean shape.
Weak fighting followed until the twelfth
round, when Duffy forced Watson to his
corner, where he dealt him two heavy
blows on the nose. Watson replied with
a swinging right handler, which split
Duify's lip and sent a stream Of blood run
ming down his neck and bosom. When
the men came up in the thirteenth round
they presented q battered appearance.
nutfy's breast aud arms were Smeared
with blood and Ills mouth looked a. though
il ran from ear t0 ear. Watson was bleed
ing freely too, but he appeared to have the
better wind. The betting was now in
favor of Watson, hut friends Of the Ohio
lad were not slow in covering ali good
odds.
Ia the 18th round Duffy broke a small
bone in his right wrist in attempting TO
reach WatsOn's Jugular, hut he continued
to fight despite the pain his selt-intllcted
injury gave him. In the 18th round Wat
son hrOkeDufly's nose with a swinging left
handler aud followed it up with n rafting
blow on the neck. For 4 moment the
Ohio boy wavered, but the calling of time
gave him a chance to get his wind.
Terrific smuggling followed until the 10Th
round, Duffy directing his attention to his
opponents bellows and Watson, dealing
blow after blow upon the OhiOans broken
nose. Both men were covered with each
Others blood and the floor was despatched
with crimson spots.
At one time the faces Of the game fight
ers were completely plastered with gore,
and Duffy's upper lip, which had been
split nearly to his broken horn, hing 1p"n
his chin.
As It was now after & o'clock the lamps
wefe extinguished, the doors thrown open
and the fight confined by daylight. Dutfy's
terrific body blows In the Goth, Dist, 22d
and 23d rounds had Il demoraliling effect
on Watson, who, up TO this time, had es'
capped much Disagreement. He began ia
blow in an ominOus manner, and great
Jumps and wells appeared on his brea't.
The terrific work of the OhiOan was loudly
cheered, and even money was offered and
covered that he would yet knock out the
Chicagoau. Iu the Oath round Watson
sent his left against Duffy's right eye and
a moment later it was sound asleep. The
OhiOan's other eye began to curl up too,
but his seconds managed to straighten II
out in time for the lex round.
Both men spared for wind in the 25th
26th, 9th and 2Sth rounds, but in thu
29th Duffy, who had mended his bellows
renewed his attack on Watson's ribs. Tht
fighting was very fierce in this round
WatsOn's blows on his opponents face
having the effect of sending the blood fly
ing in streams. The 32d, 33d, Bath, 35th
and Both rounds were of the hammer anC
tOngs" order, each man trying to get in
Knockout blow. Watson came near gOinl
down three times in these rounds undel
the catapult blows OF the Buckeye Boy
but he managed to pull himself tOgethej
before his opponent could follow up his ad
vantage. The broken nose came in fol
more punishment during these rounds anC
once the Chicago boy reached for ant
caught Duf1y's well eye. In the 37tl
Duffy sent Watson to the ropes with ring
ing left-hander, but caught a solid blow il
the mouth in return and "A clinCh followed
and continued until time was called.
The spectators declared that they haC
seen enough and begged them to call thu
fight a draw. 1t was now broad daylight
and people were stirring out of doors. Tht
seconds, however, wanted to see the tigh'
out to a finish and sent their men up fO
the thirty-eighth round. Both were too
weak to do any effective work, and in tn,
forty-fOurth round the mel were 80 clear
ly exhausted that the referee called TIT
fight q draw. The contest lasted tive
hours and fourteen minutes.
Change in the X. 4 o. Management.